Nine junctions along one of Leicestershire’s most congested roads could be revamped as part of a £49 million bid to tackle congestion and air pollution.

Leicestershire County Council is bidding for a share of £3.5 billion of Government cash to try to deal with traffic-related problems on the 11 mile stretch of the A511 from Ashby de la Zouch to J22 of the M1.

Large scale housing development in the area as well as a rapid expansion of distribution warehouses in the area have put pressure on the key route.

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Coalville’s county councillor Terri Eynon said: “It's good to hear the A511 is going to be improved with increased capacity but one of the issues we have locally is we are one of the top ten districts nationally, according to the RAC, of people having to travel to work by car.

“We have very poor connectivity.”

County councillor Dan Harrison, who represents Ibstock and Appleby said: “North West Leicestershire is the worst area in the whole of Leicestershire.

“It is really bad.

“I’ve yet to convince the district council this is a really serious problem.

“There is a stretch all through North West Leicestershire from Coalville where there is serious air pollution.

“I feel absolutely helpless about what to do and who to speak to.

“I have spoken to the (county council) director of health and he’s not able to help me.

“Where on Earth can we go to get help and try and have some action taken?”

If the bid succeeds, a new road – the Bardon Link Road – would create a north to south route across Coalville.

Simon Statham, Midlands Connect’s head of technical programmes, said: “This is a really ambitious proposal from Leicestershire County Council, who provided compelling evidence that this scheme will help create new jobs and homes, improve access to East Midlands Airport and major employers like Amazon and Bardon Hill Quarry, and improve air quality by reducing congestion.”